Niharika and Kriti Rescued from a "Guest House" in West Bengal

Our social workers with Niharika and Kriti after their rescue

On July 7, 2026, we received intel about a minor victim who was being sexually exploited in a guest house in Barrackpore, a city about 14 miles from Kolkata. 

On July 10, after gathering sufficient information, we left to verify the intel.

On July 13, after verifying our intel, we proceeded to the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate to meet the Commissioner of Police. Our team shared our intel with the Commissioner of Police and requested him to rescue the victim. 

The Commissioner of Police wanted to know about Freedom Firm. We briefed him about our work and the minor victim we wanted to rescue. After learning more about the case, he referred us to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, who then referred us to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.  After sharing our intel with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, he referred us to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU). After sharing details with AHTU, our raid was postponed until the next day.

On July 14, the police and our team discussed various rescue strategies. After finalizing a rescue plan, the police and our team proceeded to the location.

The guest house was situated in the middle of a busy street and consisted of two floors. There was a small reception area on the first floor and two rooms with attached toilets and a common kitchen area. There were three rooms on the second floor.

At 1:57 p.m., the police and our team raided the guest house in Barrackpore and rescued two victims, 14-year-old Niharika, and 19-year-old Kriti. While searching the other rooms, the police found the receptionist of the guest house and the pimp and immediately arrested them.  After the police collected evidence from the guest house, the police and our team proceeded to the police station with Niharika, Kriti, and the accused. The police recorded the victims’ statements. 

At 4:37 p.m., the police filed the First Information Report (FIR). We then accompanied Niharika and Kriti to their medical tests. Once they completed their medical tests, we returned to the police station to complete a few more legal formalities.

At 1:21 a.m. the following morning, the police completed entering all the required details. We accompanied Niharika and Kriti to different shelter homes where they remain safe.